Hibbing Community College’s Automotive Technician program was awarded the 2021 Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence Exemplary College Program of the Year. The award showcases post-secondary level transportation programs that have had the most positive impact through best practices and innovation. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation has supported this program through funding allocated to the Iron Range Higher Education Committee.

Eric Mattila is a second-year Automotive Technician student working towards his diploma and certification. Mattila is 19 and grew up in Ely where his father and uncle introduced him to auto mechanics. Mattila’s uncle is a mechanic for the city of Ely, his father repairs cars in addition to his full-time job, and the three of them share a hobby of water racing snowmobiles.

“I’ve been around engines my entire life. I grew up with a wrench in my hand,” said Mattila. “The Automotive Technician program is preparing me to achieve goals in my next phase of life. When I graduate I want to be a mechanic at an automotive repair shop and eventually own and operate my own business.”

Mattila explained that the curriculum is robust and detailed, and the instructors are very knowledgeable and engaged with the students.

“I look forward to going to class every day, and the instructors are constantly going above and beyond to not only teach but make me aware of job openings and scholarship opportunities to help offset my tuition costs,” said Mattila. “My favorite class right now is Steering & Suspension. That area has never been one of my favorites, however the class and instructor have made it very interesting."

Pictured above left is student Eric Mattila and above right is Mattila with instructor Wayne Trenholm.

The Automotive Technician program is accredited by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) – Education Foundation and combines classroom study with practical hands-on application for repairs to today’s vehicles. Graduates of the two-year program earn 64 credits and can take the ASE Student Certification tests while enrolled in the program. Graduating from the program combined with the ASE testing satisfies one year of occupational experience.

“The employment prospects for automotive technicians are strong,” said Wayne Trenholm, automotive instructor. “Graduates at HCC have numerous employment possibilities at car dealerships, independent repair shops, specialty car care chains as well as federal, state and county maintenance shops. Students like Eric may even start their own business down the road.”

 Watch the Automotive Technician virtual tour video.

Pictured above are Kevin Hyduke and Wayne Trenholm, Automotive Technician program instructors. 

The largest planetarium in northeastern Minnesota, Paulucci Space Theatre, recently received digital and technological upgrades. The facility is located adjacent to Hibbing Community College (HCC) and is one of over a dozen planetariums in Minnesota. Paulucci’s dome has a unique tilt and is 40 feet in diameter making it the second largest dome in the state. The only larger dome is located in the capital city of St. Paul. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $20,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $100,000.

Upgrades included a new 4K digital all-sky projection system that replaced old slide and movie projectors. The new system and software have the capability to present a wide variety of full dome shows, as well as project flat images on the dome such as PowerPoints, DVDs and Bluerays. A new LED star lamp was added to the existing Spitz Staff Star Projector which projects the current nighttime sky. A new sound system was installed, and new cove lighting was added around the dome’s interior edge. The lobby was revamped with new paint, furniture and display spaces.

The renovation was led by Kevin Milani, a chemistry instructor at HCC who teaches a course in astronomy. Milani has been with HCC for 36 years and served as the planetarium’s assistant director for 11 of those years.

“The new equipment gives us access to a staggering amount of program content and shows,” said Milani. “Planetarium guests can take virtual trips throughout the cosmos and explore thousands of miles above the Earth, our planetary system, the Milky Way and black holes.”

The theatre originally opened in 1980 as a state-of-the-art planetarium and has annually drawn thousands of visitors who enjoyed multi-media shows, star lectures and the same wide screen movies shown at Omnimax theaters across the country. Over the last 20 years, film gradually disappeared and was replaced with digital equipment, rendering most of the capabilities of the Paulucci Space Theatre obsolete. Milani used the 18-month COVID-19 closure to deep clean and clear out the facility to make way for the renovation and digital transition.

The theatre reopened to the public this past June and offers:

• Weekly All Sky Movies: Rotating feature films such a “Touching the Sun” and “Cosmic Castaways.”
• School Field Trips: Area schools can choose from over 20 shows suited for grades K-12. Grades K-3 can enjoy shows such as “The Little Star that Could.” Junior high and high School students are suited for “Cosmic Colors: An Adventure Along the Spectrum” or “Asteroid Impact Monitoring Mission.”
• Night Telescope Viewing: Members of the Range Astronomy Club set up telescopes in the theatre parking lot for the public to view deep-sky objects and the moon, Jupiter and Saturn.
• New Software for Viewing: (1) OpenSpace can visualize and simulate a flight to anywhere in the entire known universe, (2) Stellarium can show the current night time sky from any location on earth, draw constellations and simulate astronomical phenomena such as meteor showers or comets, and solar or lunar eclipses, and (3) WorldWide Telescope has capabilities similar to OpenSpace and Stellarium and is developed by the American Astronomical Society.
• Theatre Rentals: Facility rentals for business meetings, birthday parties, groups, fundraiser and family gatherings.

“The financial support from our local community, former residents and foundations was incredible,” said Milani. “Many people shared their fond memories of growing up and living in northeastern Minnesota and learning about the stars and constellations during their school trips to the planetarium.”

Funding partners included Gina Paulucci, Dr. Ben Owens Foundation, HCC Student Life Fund, HCC Foundation, Security State Bank Foundation, and numerous donations from local businesses, organizations and private individuals.

Learn more about Paulucci Space Theatre, show dates and times and admission and rental fees.

Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

Chisholm was one of 12 northeastern Minnesota communities that received a Taconite Area Community Relief grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. The city received a $125,000 grant and combined it with $30,000 of its own funds to provide $155,000 in financial assistance to four pandemic-distressed businesses. The four organizations received zero-interest loans ranging from $18,000 up to $30,000.

Businesses in Chisholm that utilized the COVID relief funding included:

• Aikey Electric: building repairs.
• Jenifer Ivanca Insurance Agency: building repairs.
• Pasta Works: working capital.
• Tom & Jerry’s: building repairs.

“The Taconite Area Community Relief program was great for local businesses in Chisholm,” said Stephanie Skraba, Chisholm city administrator. “The funding gave business owners the opportunity to grow and sustain their businesses during COVID-19.”

There is $17,000 remaining in the relief fund. Eligible businesses in Chisholm that were impacted by the pandemic may still apply for a zero-interest loan.

The Taconite Area Community Relief Grant was established last year by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation. Twelve applications were received from area communities, and all were funded at various levels with financial participation from each community.

Learn more about Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation COVID relief programs.

The city of Chisholm added new amenities to Iron Trail Campground including an e-vehicle charging station, picnic tables, signage and landscaping. Other amenities soon scheduled for installation are a bike wash station, bike tire pump, e-bike charging station and bike repair tools.

The campground is located within the city limits and is open year-round, allowing for all camping types. It is owned and operated by the city and offers offer 35 full hookup sites (electricity, water, sewer), 14 partial hookup sites (electricity, water) and seven tent sites.

The city acquired ownership of the campground last year in conjunction with the opening of Redhead Mountain Bike Park. It is estimated that in its first year, the bike park and city combined attracted approximately 10,000 visitors from across the United States. That number is expected to increase each year as the bike park gains in popularity. The 25-mile trail traverses amidst 1,225 acres of mining impacted land with rich red earth surfaces, steep and rugged rock ledges, lush green forestry, and open mine pits full of clear blue water.

“The campground has been a great asset to regional tourists and visitors of Chisholm,” said City Administrator Stephanie Skraba. “Chisholm has been undergoing planning for revitalization of the downtown area, and the bike park and campground add an abundance to the city’s and region’s offerings.”

Other funding partners of the campground amenities project include Minnesota Power who donated the e-charging stations.

“E-bicycles and e-vehicles have grown in popularity over the last year,” said Skraba. “With Chisholm located along the Mesabi Trail and adjacent to the Redhead Mountain Bike Park, the city is positioned to embrace the growing trend by offering e-charging stations.”

Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.